Joli Vin imports

Domaine Pavelot - Pernand-Vergelesses

The village of Pernand-Vergelesses lives in the shadow, quite literally, of the village just to the south-east, Aloxe-Corton. It might not roll off the tongue quite as fluidly such as Morey-Saint-Denis or sound quite as polished as Chambolle-Musigny, yet this village located on the western slope of the famous Corton-Charlemagne hill and its surrounding vineyards is home to many exquisitely crafted, mineral driven Chardonnays and equally charming Pinots, possessing delicate structure, a seductive array of freshly crushed red fruits and mineral backbone. The winemaking certainly has improved immeasurably in the last couple of decades, with some village parcels being elevated to 1er Cru status and as a result, there are first class wines to be found at reasonable prices.

The Pavelot family name can be found in the public record books of this village dating back to the 17th century. More recently, Régis Pavelot and since the early 1990’s, son Luc, and daughter Lise have taken over the management of this 8.6 ha domaine.

There is a strong emphasis on tradition at Domaine Pavelot. The wicker baskets pictured on Pavelot label are in fact the very same baskets, panniers osier, currently in use at harvest to bring in the domaine fruit. The winemaking techniques are classic and result in pure, balanced, vibrant flavors and textures: 95 -100% de-stemming; cold macerations for 4-5 days; temperature controlled fermentations for 14-18 days (longer for the whites); never more than 12 months in barrel and a moderate application of new wood, depending on the cuvée and the vintage. And in the ongoing effort to respect the authenticity of terroir, and give greater voice and expression to this wonderful patchwork of vineyard parcels, each with their own unique story to tell, the domaine is currently in conversion to organic certification.

There’s no hocus pocus here, only great attention being paid to respect traditions and the land which for many generations has supported their family and their community. The results are honest, the flavors pure and plain to taste. Yet another over-performing, still under-recognized domaine, just beginning to receive the attention they deserve, such as from noted Burgundy guru Clive Coates and surely to be receiving greater recognition on this side of the Atlantic before long.